Our sailing activities are varied to capture the interests of different kinds of sailors - beginners, old salts, racers, cruisers, big boaters, and trailer sailors. We think of our sailing program as made up of the following:
These sailing activities vary in length so you can find the ones that fit you best.
This is a great opportunity for our Learn to Sail folks to come out and get some hands-on experience, either on their own boats with an experienced member going along, or on another's boat as crew. We wrap it up when the sun goes down, and head up to Ganly's for a bite. So if you want to meet Blue Marsh sailors in their element, come out some Wednesday night. We're the ones with the masts.
DAYSAILS / WEEKEND VAGABONDS
These sails are geared more for the trailer sailor,
although our big boat members are welcome to join in if we are in their vicinity. A daysail
is just that, whether at Blue Marsh, a nearby lake like Nockamixon or Lake Marberg at
Codorus State Park, or on the upper Chesapeake Bay. Just someplace no more than 1-2 hours
away where we can drop in and enjoy the water for a few hours.
Our weekend vagabonds (doesn't that sound romantic?) can take us a little farther afield and involve an overnight at either a motel or campground. We try to plan for either leaving the boats in slips overnight or on the trailer rigged so we don't have the extra tear-down and set-up. Most often we head to the Chesapeake to sail the bigger water and/or to gunkhole the rivers and creeks. Crews are made up of those who wish to go and are only limited by the number of boats. Our vagabonds are put together by different hosts who are responsible for scouting the location for suitable ramp facilities, arranging motel/camping accommodations, and planning a place for a group dinner Saturday night. Costs are absorbed by those who participate.
We plan 4-5 daysails/vagabonds a season. Some of our favorites of the past years have been:
- sailing the Choptank from Cambridge to Oxford while watching the log canoe races
- sailing Havre de Grace and the lower Susquehanna, then enjoying the Seafood Festival at the city park
- sailing the Severn past the Naval Academy, then spending the evening in Annapolis
- sailing under the Bay Bridge from Sandy Point to the Thomas Point Light and back
CRUISES
Each spring and fall, we plan a long weekend cruise on the Chesapeake, open
to cruisers of all sizes. This is usually a Thursday night through Sunday event, and is a
good time for big boats and pocket cruisers, as well as those wishing to build their
charter experience. There have been one 10-day and one 7-day cruise in recent years,
although it's easy to jump in and just do part of a longer event. The club's Fleet Captain
does the planning, including setting the itinerary, arranging for slips and restaurants,
and holding captains' meetings. Costs are absorbed by those who participate.
Typically, Thursday night is spent in the home port, with Friday through Sunday as full sailing days. One night is a raftup, with happy hour shared across the cockpits. Dinners are sometimes combined efforts, creating wonderful new dishes like "stewp" (a blend of stew and soup). Anchoring out under the stars, talking and laughing with friends is an experience not to be missed. The other night is usually planned for a marina or another member club of CBYCA. Meeting new folks and sharing club experiences makes our sailing family grow.
A long weekend cruise lets us live the wonderful sailing life and whatever adventures it brings - wind, no wind, too much wind, running aground, hat overboard rescue, navigating through mine fields of crabpots, and so much more. Join us!
EXTENDED CRUISES
The Greek Islands... a Windjammer to Martha’s Vineyard... the British Virgin
Islands... the Grenadines... St. Martin... these are among the wonderful
cruising venues that we have enjoyed on club cruises. Imagine sailing exotic
locales, with crystalline waters, warm sunshine, and great friends. Mmmmm....
Blue Marsh Sailing plans an extended cruise approximately every other year. It is open to club members and their families. Vessels are chartered by qualified captains in our club and crews are organized among those interested in the trip. BMSA's Fleet Captain conducts much of the planning with input from those participating.
The 2003 trip is planned for May 17-24th to Antigua. This will be unlike other trips in that it is not a cruise but a resort stay at Sunsail’s Club Colonna. This resort offers land-based comforts with a wide variety of sailing vessels available on a daily basis. Soon, we'll need to plan the next trip for 2005. Where would YOU like to go?
An extended cruise is a great way to see a small part of the world from a unique perspective, expand your sailing and navigational skills, and make life-long friends. Just one more reason to join Blue Marsh Sailing!
©2002-2007, Blue Marsh Sailing Association.
Content BMSA Members.